Orford - Discover Suffolk

Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide
The Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB
The Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is
one of Britain’s finest landscapes. It extends from the Stour Estuary in the
south to the eastern fringe of Ipswich and, in the north, to Kessingland.
It covers 403 square kilometres, including wildlife-rich wetlands, ancient
heaths, windswept shingle beaches and historic towns and villages.
Explorer Guide
Key to Map
Ordnance Survey Map No. 212
(Woodbridge and Saxmundham)
Beccles
AONB area
Additional project area
A145
KeyWoodland
to Map
Access via the B1078 or B1084 from
the A12. Parking can be limited on
very busy days.
A12
Beccles
AONB
area
Heathland
HalesworthKessingland
Southwold
Additional project area
Main roads
Towns and villages
A145
Railways/stations
Public transport information:
www.suffolkonboard.com or call
0845 606 6171
Kessingland
Lowestoft
Towns and villages
A12
Woodland
River
Blyth
Suffolk Coast
Heathland
Path/Stour
Blythburgh
Halesworth
A144
and Orwell Walk
Southwold
Main roads
Sandlings Walk
Railways/stations
Walberswick
River
Blyth
Suffolk
Coast
Path/Stour
Sailors’
Path
and Orwell Walk
Dunwich
Blythburgh
A1120
A144
Walberswick
You are here
Sandlings Walk
Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB
01394 384948
www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org
Sailors’ Path
You are here
Framlingham
Framlingham
Minsmere
Dunwich
A1120
Minsmere
Saxmundham
Leiston
Saxmundham
Leiston
Snape
Wickham
Market
Wickham
Orford Explorer has been produced
with the generous support of
the National Trust at Orford Ness
National Nature Reserve.
01728 648024
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
orford-ness
Aldeburgh
Snape
Market
Rendlesham
River
Alde
Rendlesham
A12
A12
Orford
Hoo
Ipswich
River
Deben
Alton Water
A12
A137
Alton Water
Manningtree
A137
Trimley St Mary/
St Martin
A14
Orwel
l
River
Orwe
Shotley
ll
Ness
Trimley St Mary/
St Martin
Felixstowe
Shotley Harwich
North
Sea North
Sea
Bawdsey
River Stour
Mistley
Manningtree
River
Bawdsey
Deben
A14
River
River
Ore
Sutton
Sutton
Hoo
Ipswich
A14
A12
River
Orford
Ore
Orford NessOrford
oodbridge
WW
oodbridge
A14
River
Alde Aldeburgh
OS Licence info. © Crown copyright
and database rights 2012 Ordnance
Survey 100023395.
Felixstowe
River Stour
Harwich
Mistley
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Research, text and some images by Simon Peachey. Additional route checking by Mary and Tony Bishop. Printed on Recycled, FSC, ECF, Carbon Balanced paper.
Lowestoft
Visiting Orford
Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB
is a partner of the BALANCE
project, part-financed by the
European Union through the
Interreg IV A 2 Seas Crossborder Programme.
Orford
Orford
Enjoy two walks around the
fascinating town of Orford
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Orford is a beautiful town on the Suffolk Coast. Streets of red brick
cottages surround the dramatic Norman Castle and the ancient church of St
Bartholomew. Beside the river Ore, the quay faces mysterious Orford Ness.
Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide
Highlights of Orford
1
The Quay is a bustling place, with boats
leaving for Orford Ness, children crabbing and
fishermen returning with their catch. Many boats
are drawn up on the shore in front of the black
painted fishing sheds.
2
4
A
Orford Ness is a huge bank of shingle built
as wave and tide move pebbles down the coast,
a process known as ‘long shore drift’. Behind this
bank marshes and lagoons have formed that are
home to wading birds, wildfowl, marsh harrier
and hares. Each year the river mouth at the
southern end of the shingle spit changes shape.
5
D
The strange pagoda-like structures were used
during the Cold War to develop and test nuclear
B
bombs. Orford Ness is owned by the National
Trust and holds the best preserved area of vegetated shingle in Europe, a
globally rare and extremely fragile habitat. The Ore estuary and the Ness have
international recognition as a nature reserve.
E
The River Ore starts life as the River Alde but
changes its name at Orford. Shingle blocked the
Alde’s former estuary at Aldeburgh, forcing
it to run parallel to the coast for miles. The
River’s winding has created islands and creeks,
including Havergate Island. This RSPB reserve
provides a summer habitat for breeding
avocets and terns. In late summer, the salt
marshes are washed blue and purple by the
flowers of sea lavender.
6
Orford Castle was
commissioned by Henry II and
completed in 1173. Built to
assert Henry’s authority over
the powerful Suffolk Barons,
the castle keep remains today.
Originally there would have been
a surrounding wall or ‘bailey’. The
castle is an effective navigation
mark for shipping. From the
castle roof you can savour views
stretching for many miles.
The town of Orford has
fine buildings, many constructed
of warm, red brick. The roads
are arranged in a grid pattern, a
layout dating from the Norman
period. Until the 16th Century,
fishing and the wool trade
brought prosperity to Orford.
However, the growing shingle
spit of Orford Ness cut off the
harbour and Orford lost its
buzzing port.
St Bartholomew’s Church dates from the mid to late
1100s. The oldest section is the ruined Norman chancel. The nave
and tower date from the early 1300s when the church was
re-built to accommodate Orford’s growing population. The
church remains a beautiful building, with fine stained glass
and a 15th century stone font.
Images: Front cover – Orford Ness across the river from nr the Quay. A: Orford Quay – boats and bustle.
B: Sailing Barge – a common site at Orford. C: Sea Lavender – a beautiful salt marsh plant. D: Orford
Castle – the impressive Norman keep. E: St Bartholomew’s Church – dates back to the 1100s.
Orford
These two walks cross the mysterious marshes before returning to
Orford to visit the castle and church. Both walks feature superb views
of Orford Ness and the winding river.
Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100023395.
Sallow
Hole
B1084
Town
Marshes
6
Broom
Covert
4
Gedgrave
Broom
Orford
5
B1084
Chantry
Farms
1
Orford
Quay
Across the Marshes to the Castle
River and Village Stroll
Sewage
Works
Richmond
Farms
2
B Road
C Road
Orford Ness National
Nature Reserve
Chantry
Marshes
1
‘Highlights’ Location
Parking
3
Public House
Orford Castle
Orford Church
Settlements
Gedgrave
Marshes
N
Tide
Gauge
Marsh Land
Chantry
Point
Wooded Areas
1000ft
200m
‘Across the Marshes
to the Castle’
Distance
4 miles (6.5 km)
Walk along lane until you come to
wall of High House on left. Opposite
end of wall, take footpath that leads
off right. Follow path beside fields and
across dyke to river wall. Turn right
Time: 2 hours
Terrain: Paths and tracks, which can
be muddy. The path along the river
wall is exposed. Part of route on public
roads. Please be aware of traffic. We
recommend high visibility clothing.
Leave car park and turn left. Walk to
quay and turn right along path beside
river. Follow this path along river
wall towards Chantry point. Round
point and follow path as it leads along
Follow river wall around to left until
path turns right and drops down off
reach road, turn right.
B
Just before you reach houses
on right, take track that leads
off left. Just past barn, take
path on right up steps through
hedge. Follow path across fields
to castle.
Walk past impressive castle
keep until you reach road. Turn
Countryside
Code
The area has a network
of footpaths and
bridleways. We have
shown suggested
routes on this map. He
re are a few simple
suggestions to help you
enjoy the area
safely and assist our
work in caring for it.
Follow the Countrysid
e Code :
Plan ahead and follow
any signs
Leave things as you fin
d them
Protec t plants and an
imals, control fires
and take your litter ho
me.
Dogs are ver y welcome
, but please keep
them under close con
trol at all times and
on lead as advised.
Thank you.
Find out more about the
Countryside Code:
ww w.countr ysideacc
ess.gov.uk
‘River and Village Stroll’
Distance
2 miles (3.5 km)
Time: 1 hour
Terrain: Paths and tracks, which can
winding river wall. Ignore path that
leads back across Chantry point.
you
C
and follow path back to quay.
A
river wall towards gate. Go through
gate and follow track inland. When
Dogs are
welcome, please
keep them under
control and on
lead as advised
left up tarmacked road, passing
hotel.
Walk across Market Hill and
enter churchyard beside King’s
Head Inn. Walk up to church
porch and turn right. Leave
churchyard by second gate and
turn left along lane (if you want
to shorten route, walk straight
down road to quay). Follow lane
for short while, before taking
first turning right. At end of
lane, turn left.
Images: A: The River Ore – a great place for
sailing. B: Sunflower field – with the River Ore
beyond. C: Boats at Orford Quay – ready for
the river. D: Orford Castle – the entrance to
the ancient keep. E: Flower covered cottages
– Orford has many beautiful buildings. F: Thistle
flower – provides nectar for bumble bees.
be muddy. The path along the river
wall is exposed. Part of route on public
roads. Please be aware of traffic. We
recommend high visibility clothing.
Leave car park and turn left. Walk to
the quay and turn right along path
beside river.
Keep walking along river wall, away
from the town, until you reach path
that leads off right. Take this path as it
drops down off the river wall and goes
through gate. Turn right shortly after
gate, along path that leads inland.
Follow this path past sewage works
and join access track.
E
D
When you reach road, turn
right. Follow road until
road junction, then turn left
between cottages. Pass castle
on left and follow road as it
bends to right, passing hotel.
Walk across Market Hill and
enter churchyard beside King’s
Head Inn. Walk up to church
porch and turn right. Leave
church yard by
second gate and
walk straight
down road
to quay.
F